Road-engine.



G. B.SELDEN.'

ROAD ENGINE.

APPLIoATloN Hum SEPT. 7, 1395.

G. B. SELDEN.

ROAD ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 7, 1895.

Patented June 4, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

original application ined nay s, 1 879. Divided gines, of which the following is a specifica-- of the United Gnonen B'. sELnEN, or nocnns'rnn, yNrw voisin.`

Bonn-ENGINE.'

Speeication of Letters Patent.

To all whom it may ooncem:

Be it known that I, GEORGE B. Stimmt, a citizen of the United States, residing in Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have" invented certain new and useful Improvements in Road-Ention, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, formln'g a part hereof.

This appllcation `1s a division of my former v'application for Letters Patent, iled May 8th, 1879 upon which Letters Patent States, No.` 549,16() were i granted to me November 5th, 1895.

The general'obfect of this invention is the same as that' statedin the `specification of the Letters Patent above mentioned, namely, the production of a safe, simple, and practical, and comparatively cheap road locomotive, light in weight, easy. to control, and possessed of sufficient power to. overcome any ordinary inclination in the road bed'.

More particularly it is the' object of this invention to produce a driving and'steering truck,l embodyin the motor 'in itself, and

` provided with suitable connectionswhereby the motor may be controlled, and the steer- -lng mechanlsm may bemanipulat'ed from 'the body of the vehicle, the parts beingso arranged and operated in connection with a running gear, that thefull carrying capac-l ity of the bodyof lthe vehicle can -bel utilized for the ltransport -ofipersonsfor goods; and'l a further object is to provide a driving and steerlng truck whlch can be readily attached 'oor detached from the body of any road 4o A' c'onvementand practical embodimentofthe invention .lsshngrn in' theaccompanynA The-invention consists in the matters herelnafter desnribedI and referred to lintlie appendedfclaims. t

ing-drawingfsyin which- ,f

igure'l is a side elevatio'nof self' ropelling carriage or road vehicle,` to w ich" 'my'lnventlon 1s applied.;- Fig. 2; is a front' elevatlon of the same; F ig.-3 ,is a' ,verticali section on an enlarged scale,through the power; Fig. 4 is a vertical section also on an enlarged scale, through thelexible connections for controlling the motor-shown lin Flgs'. 1, 2, `and 3; Fig. 5 is adetaili'viewof hydrocarbon engine shown 'in Fig. 1, as ape pled `to the carriage as a source of motive Springs 'a portionv of the devices for controlling theclutches.

` It will be understood that while I have Patented June 4 1912.

and-this application filed September 7, 1895. Serial No. 561,133.

shown the motor as supported by and forming a part of the forward truck of the vehicle, and I prefer this construction, ben cause I believe it tobe morepractical, I do not limit myself to this arrangementfn arrangement by which the motor is supported within my invention. That is I`v consider my invention as broadlyincluding atruck by and forms 4a part of the rear truck, being embody/lng the features referred to inthe claims, therit-his truck be a rear truck, or a fore-carriage, 'or a driving, or a driving 'and steering truck. i

Referring generally to the 'construction which, for purposes of 'explanation of the' nature of the invention, is illustrated in the drawings, the body A ofthe vehicle vor carriage,which obviouslymay be of anydesired form, is represented as supported upon a front driving and Asteering truck, having steering end driving-'wheels B, and a rear carrying ortrailing t1i1ckhav1ng carrying vor trailing wheels C,through the medium of .springs surmounted byaframe vP., which in turn'. iS

D Yand Efr'espectively The` are'- detachably secured to `andr detachably secured to the worm 'gear F- whichf constitutes the'aifthv wheel and upon front of the dri-vingandsteeringftruck turn:

-ing with the worm gear F an'dvwith 'relation tothe body A.

The motor in.thefconstruction"shown, is

directly'fsupportedby. land forms a part of the. drivingjf;1and steeringltruck, being def tachabley wrth-Lithejftrucli when the same is Asepa;'ated-"xi,f roxir the body, and being 'controlledfbyfsuitable, connections which arev manipulatedifrom .thel body of the vehicle,

between the and the truck. As herehydrocarbon engine of the compression type,

i@ 1 and permit the 'necessary relative movement l lin shown,-the motor ispreferably a liquid provided with a pinion N meshing into a gear M, by which -power is transmitted'to 'the driving wheels B, preferably through a driving axle.. A reservoir O'for compressed air is shown'as connected by'suitable pipe connections with an airy pump d operated by,;a n d forming'a part of the englne L, the

conipressedair being delivered tothe' comi 60 v also represented in said drawings the movebustion Vchamber T` and working cylinder lR and the piston therein of the engine througha valve f, operated by a suitable cam on the shaft S along with a given quantity of liquid hydrocarbon which is injected by a pump g from the tanlx U into the combustion chamber T', the products of combustion after the expansion bein-g exhausted through a valve V, opened by the proper cam on shaft S, and passing out through an exhaust pipe X. The cam shaft S may be driven by the gear N, through suitable in-v termediate gears Orother connections, all

the gears being boxed yin to exclude dust.

As already indicated, the motor is shown as wholly supported by and forms f-a part of -the driving and steering truck, and as .represented inthe drawing, the springs D may be secured directly to the compressed air reservoir O and the working cylinder o1' cylinders may also be secured to said reservoir, the reservoir and the cylinders being suitably secured to, and supportedupon, the

axle Q. The motor may be of any desired type, however, for utilizing any vpreferred power medium. The successive charges of air and vaporized hydrocarbon are ignited in the combustion chamber T by I'neans of a constantlyburning llame therein, although any desired andsuitable means' of ignition could be employed in this chamber. j .y

Fig. 3 is a central vertical section of the x working cylinder and air pump, and in mission valves and combustion apparatus,

which for convenience of illustration, the combustion-chamber, alr-valve, pump, and

lexhaust-valve are represented in the same plane.

It will be understood that in the three-cylindered engine shown each' working cylinder is provided with suitable adand that the cranks .are preferably arranged at equalangles witheach other. -It will also be noted by referring to said Fig. 3, that-the combustion-chamber T is fully opened into th'e .working cylinder, that is, ythat-the full charge exertsv pressure against the` piston.

Furthermore, said ligureillustratesV the- 'opening into the combustion-chamber `as controlled by a-check-valve shown -in heavyblacklines with a gauze flame intercepter interposed between the cheek-valve and the -combustion-chamber, as represented by the .dotted line.

' AS represented in the drawings, the

wheelsB ofmy driving and steering truck may be mounted uponran axle Q., which is arranged to swivel mabout a vertical pivot,

said axle carrying the motor and 4 wheels B with it as. itl swivels about said plvot. As

ments ofthe truck, -for'lthe-purpose of steering the vehicle, may be' eiectedby a worm ST, whichy meshes. with .the worm gearnor fth wheel. F,y above referred to, and is mounted 4011 a vshaft supported on the body of the vehicle or carriage.l The worm may be rota-ted from the steering wheel H by suitable gearing, such as the gear G and pinion t.

As stated above, 'power may be transmitted from the motor to the driving wheels B, through the gearing M N. In the embodiment of a-hydrocarbon engine as herein shown, a clutch Y is interposed between the engine and such gearing, to allow the v engine to be disconnected, andv in case the clutchl is employed at this point the cam shaft S -should be ldriven positively `fromthe clutches being opened or closed by rods z', z",

which are operated by means of spiral slots, with which the ends of said rods engage, in' a rotating plate m, which is controlled as of clutches may be employed.

In order that the clutches and the controlling valves or other controlling devices of the motor or other driving means, may

be operated from the body of the vehicle or carriage, without interference by or with the relative movements of the. driving and steering truck `and the body, it is necessary that 'some sort of flexible connections be pro-v videdbetween the hand wheels or other controlling means on the body of the vehicle,

and the clutches and valves or other motor-v controlling devices on the driving and steering truck. As shown in Figs. l, 2, and 4, such flexible connections may comprise tubes arranged one within the other, as shown at J in Fig. 4, as many as-may be 4necessary and supported by suitable bearings on the body. The inner lconnection may be a rod n, as shown in Fig. 4. Provision is made for the vertical oscillation ofthe body with reference to thefdriving axle and -motor by having each'rod or tube composed of two parts, capable of sliding on feach other, but com-v `pelled torotate together by a spline or pin lc in the one engaging a slot in the other.

`hereinafter described. Any suitable form A At their lower ends, the connections may pass -into a suitable journal on the motor.

Abovesuch journal, each connection is prof vided with a universal joint p, q, Fig.'4, which admits of the oscillation of the driv# ing .shaft with reference tothe body, the I l sectionsV of. the :universal .couplings being 65. means for turning said described. The valves of the engine or other motor-controlling devices may be connected with the -lower ends of the flexible connections, so as .to be operatgd therefrom, in any convenient manner.

As-shown in Fig. 3, the air'inlet valve d Y is controlled from the upper hand wheel I, ebylthe innermost flexible connection, communicating at itslowerend by gears c with an extension rod splined to the valve stem.' The inlet supply valves between the tank U and the pump g arecontrolled by' the flexible connections and the cord e. The -iiexible connections are located in the center of theworm gear or fifth wheel jF, so as to allow of the free action of the steering apparatus.

It will also beunderstood that the plate m is also rotated from one of the hand wheels I through one of the iiexible connections J. The brake is shown at. Z operated by'a rope running over a corner pulley a and controlledby the brake pedal T. Y The letter r represents an air inlet valve.

My improved driving and steering truck may be conveniently'employed with any form o f trackless vehicle, being complete in itself, and readlly applied to, or detached from the vehicle or vehicle body with whichv itis- 40 used. Thus, in the arrangement shown,1the' hand wheels I may be removed and the body of thevvehicle lifted fromv its support upon the worlngear or ifth wheel F; or the separation between the truck and the body may .45- be effected between the springs D 'andthe frame P, or in any otherv desired manner. I do notwish to--be limited to the precise detalls of lconstruction and arrangement herein shown, and described, as modifica-- tions and chan-ges may be made without def parting from the spirit of my inventiom Havlng .thus describedl my 1nvention,what I claim as nelw, anddesire tosecure by Letters Patent, is: 'l

V 'u v. 55, 1.. The combination with the body' of a` road engine or self-propelling vehicleof a driving .and steering truckjtherefor, said driving and 'steering-truck comprlsing an l axle, -drivinga-nd steering wheels anda Inof tor,"motor controlling devices, and, part of the steering mechanism, said motor controlling devices and `a part of the steering mechanism extending within reach of the.A

' operator on the body of the '.vehic1e, and

axle on the axis. of

the steering mechanism; substantially as J'described. v

2. The cbmbin'ation with the body of a road engine-l or self-propelling vehicle, of a driving and steering truck, comprising an axle, driving and steering wheels, and a motor, motor controlling devices and a part of the steering mechanism extending with` y in reach of the operator on the body of the vehicle, and rmeans for turning said axle on the axis of the motor controlling devices, whereby thev controlling devices remain op-V -erative in any position of the truck, with respect to the body; substantially as described.

'3. The combination with the body of a road engine or self-propelling vehicle, and a driving and steering fore-truck therefor supporting the body, of driving and steering wheels for said fore truck, a driving mecha. g5

.nis'in carried thereon, controlling devices therefor and steering mechanism, said steering mechanlsm lncluding means for turning the axle substantially on the axis of the said controlling devices, whereby the controlling devicesremain operative in any position of the truck, with respect tol the body;

substantially as described.

4. Av driving and steering truck for roadv engines or self-propelling vehicles,compris 95 ing an axle, driving and steering wheels, a motor, motor-controlling devices, and a steering mechanism, including means for turning' the axle on a substantially vertical axis, and connections between the motor controlling devices and the motor, so cony.structed as to 'permit' complete rotation of the driving and steering truck; substantially as described.

5. The combination with a driving and steering truck for road engines or self-propelling vehicles, comprising an axle and driving andsteering wheels, a motor below vthe bodyof the vehicle, flexible motor-controlling devices, and manually operated d evices for actuating the motor-controlling -devices from above the body of the' vehicle; of a steering mechanism including means Afor. turning the axle on -theverti'cal axis of the steering mechanism, saidmeans including 'a device extendin within vreach of theoperator and permitting complete rota-tion of the driving and steering truck; substantially as described.

6. The combination with a1 driving and steering truck for lroad engines andv selfpropelling road vehicles, comprising flan axle, driving and'stee'ring wheels, a motor and motor-controlling devices, anda steering'mechanism, an' element of which is s upported by the axle, of hand-operated devices for actuating the motor-controlling devices from above the body ofthe vehicle, and f flexible connections vbetween said' handoperated devices and. the mo-torcontrollin'g 15e ,lbody 'and pivotally connected devices, wherebythe motor is controlled without interference with or by the-relative movement of the truck and body; substantially as described. I

7. The combination with the body of a road engine or self-propelling vehicle, of a truck supporting one end of the vehicle whereby it mayy be used fon steering, a motor carried by the truck below and independent of the vvehicle body, leaving the body of the vehicle substantially free for the carrying of lpersons and goods, and

"means for controlling the motor and for steering the truck, which means, extend above the bottom of vthe body "into position to be within reach of a person seated in the vehicle body; substantially as described.

' 8. A driving and steering truck for road..

engines and self-propelling vehicles, comlprising an axle, driving and steering wheels,

a motor carried below the body of'said vehicle, clutch' connections between the motor and said wheels, .clutch-controlling devices, and a steering mechanism associated with said clutch-controlling devices, an element of which steering mechanism is supported by the axle;.sub stantially as described. i

9. The combination with a driving and steering truck for road engines or self-propelling road vehicles, of a body supported thereby, an axle on the truck arranged to swivel about a vertical pivot, a hydrocarbon engine of the compression type self-contained on said truck, controlling devices for said engine, and a steering mechanism including .an element which is supported by.

said axle; substantially as described.

' 10. In a self-propelling road vehicle, the combination with a motor source' of power and transmissionV mechanism, of driving wheels supporting said motor vexterior to the body of said vehicle, and means for demotor-controllingdevices for turning said axle on an axis substantially coincident with the axis of said steering mechanism, said lmotor being carried by the drivingand vso steering truck, and intermediate supporting connections between said motor and the body of the vehiclei including springs; substantially Aas described. v,

. 12. In a self-propelling road vehicle, the combination with'a motor lsource of energy and transmission mechanism, of driving wheels supporting the motor. and vertically yielding devicesm the connections between thereto,

the motor and the body of the vehicle, with means for detachably securing the motor and "the wheels to the body of the carriage;

lsubstantially as described.

springs between the trucks and the vehicle body, a hydrocarbon gas engine together with its fuel supply carried by.- said second truck independent offthe vehicle body, and means for controlling the engine supported by said second truck and extending above the bottom of the body into position to be within the reach'of a person seatedwithin the vehicle "body, substantially as described.

14.- The combination of the body of a road engine or self-propelling vehicle, a truck supporting one end of' the vehicle body, a second truck supporting the other end of the vehicle body and pivotally connected thereto, whereby it may be used for steering, springs between the trucks and the vehicle body, a hydrocarbon gas engine, together with its fuel supply carried by said second truck independent of the vehicle body, means for detachably connecting the engine with a traction wheel on said second truck, and meansforfcontrolling the engine and its connecting means supported by said Second truck and extending above the bottom of the body into position to be within the reach'of a person seated within the vehicle body; substantiallyras described.

15. A driving and steering truck for road engines or self-propelling vehicles, comprising an axle, a driving and steeringwheel and a motor, motor-controlhng devices, of

Vwhich a part extends to the body of the vehicle within reach of the operator, 'said motor-controlling devices including flexible connections whereby the motor may yield relatively'to the body, in combination with a steering mechanism for turning said axle on a substantially vertical axis, said motorbeing'carried by the driving and steering truck, and springs-.interposed between the motor and the body of the vehicle; substantially as described.

16. A driving and steering two-wheeled truck for road engines or self-propellingv road vehicles, comprising an axle, and driving and steering wheels, and a hydrocarbon 1 OYE 'lic gas engine of the compression type, controlling devices therefor extending within reach of the operator on the body ofthe vevhicle, in combination with a steering mechanism including an element su ported by said axle; substantially as descri ed.

17. A driving and steering two-wheeled truck for Aroad engines or` self-propelling road vehicles, comprisingl anaxle and driving and steeringwheels, and a hydrocarbon gas engine of the compression` type supported by the axle and located between the wheels, controlling devices, and a steering mechanism including an element supported by said axle; substantially as described.

18. The combination with a driving and steering two-wheeled truck for road engines or/-sel-f-propellingi road vehicles, comprising an axle and a driving and steering wheel,

' and a hydrocarbon gas engine'of the compression type, controlling devices and a steering mechanism, an element of which is supported'by the axle, of hand-operated devices or actuating the controlling devices from above thebody of the vehicle, and iexible connections between such hand-operated devices and the controlling devices, whereby the engine'is controlled without interference with or by the relative movements of the truck and body; substant-ially as described. j

19. The combination with a driving and steering two-wheeled truck for road engines or self-propelling road vehicles, comprising an axle and a driving and steering wheel, and a hydrocarbon engine, controlling devices therefor, and a steering mechanism inoluding an element supported by the axle, of hand-operated devices for actuating the engine-controlling devices from above the body of the vehicle, and flexible connections between such' hand-'operated devices, whereby the engine is controlled without interference with or by the relative movement of the truck and body; substantially as described.

V20. A driving and steering two-wheeled truck for road engines or selfpropelling road vehicles, comprising an axle, driving and steering wheels, a hydrocarbon gas engine of' the compression type, a clutch between said engine and the wheels,`and clutchcontrolling devices and a steering mechanism, an element of which is supported by vthe axle; substantially as described.

21. The combination with'the body of a road engine or self-propelling vehicle, o.a two-wheeled truck supporting one end of the vehicle) body and pivotally. connected theret, whereby it may be used for steering, springs between the truck andthe vehiclel body, a hydrocarbon gas engine of the compression type, together with its fuel supply, carried by Asaid truck independent of the vehicle body; and means for controlling the engine supported by said truck and extend- `ing above the bottom of the body into position to be within the reach of a person seated in the vehicle body; vsubstantially asdescribed. v f GEO. B. SELDEN.

Witnesses:

JAMES H. COOPER,

'H. C. H.- COOPER." 

